Woodlawn runs away from Perry Hall by 24

January 06, 1994|By Kent Baker | Kent Baker,Staff Writer

The tenor was established when Woodlawn's fleet guards made four steals at midcourt in the first minute.

By the end, the Warriors had put on an entertaining show worthy of the Chicago Bulls' colors they wear in rolling over host Perry Hall, 90-66, last night in an early-season Baltimore County 3A-4A showdown.

Both teams entered the game unbeaten, but this was a mismatch from the onset for fourth-ranked Woodlawn (8-0), which was bigger, faster and quicker than the Gators.

It was the first game for Perry Hall (6-1) in more than two weeks, and the Warriors were coming off their championship of the Wes Unseld Classic last Friday.

"Their guards dictated the whole outcome of the game," said Perry Hall coach Phil Walter. "They were picking off the ball and getting the big guy [Guy Butler] a bunch of easy shots. They made everything they threw up. They were really rolling."

Despite a determined effort by Perry Hall's big man, Matt Banks, who scored 14 straight points in the third period, the Gators never rallied to within striking distances.

"We've worked hard the last couple of years and played mostly against kids from top teams," said Woodlawn coach Rod Norris. "You can see we're getting toward a different level. That kind of intensity isshowing."

Butler, last week's Baltimore Sun High School Athlete of the Week, scored 29 points to highlight a game that was 45 minutes late starting because the officials for the junior varsity preliminary did not show.

It was a game of -- and flash that included 14 dunks, one by Woodlawn point guard Keion Carpenter.

A large crowd was delighted by the antics, but Norris wasn't.

"I'm not real pleased," he said. "It's the first time all year I feel like it [the showmanship] was getting away from us a little bit. This kind of thing can't happen when we play Dunbar."

Still, one couldn't fault the Warriors' enthusiasm. They played hard and took away the momentum immediately on the opponent's court.

"We talked about not letting up after the tournament," Norris said. "But we put a little too much mustard on some things. When you have a breakaway layup and pass back, that's not good basketball.

"We shouldn't be playing to the crowd. The crowd was having fun. It was entertaining. But we have to contain ourselves and play with discipline."